Local Green Jobs Rise as SF Solar and Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs Expand
These additional funds will allow the companies that provide energy efficiency services to add an additional 30 new employees on top of the 150 already employed.
SF Energy Watch and GoSolarSF help build the local economy and develop a skilled local workforce for the exploding green tech industry. But most importantly, these jobs are sustainable. They are not based on a single project, so when completed, the jobs do not disappear. Instead, these programs are open-ended, and in the case of GoSolarSF, supported by city legislation that helps feed the process. And I can see a time coming shortly when residential and commercial energy efficiency will be required by local or even statewide mandates.
On a final related note, last September I announced the Mayor’s Solar Founders’ Circle. This initiative served to inject an important new element in our solar efforts: providing free energy efficiency audits together with solar assessments for any business or non-profit in the City that wants it. This “efficiency first” approach is the smartest path to cost savings when planning to go solar. Energy efficiency improvements to a property will decrease the size of the solar array needed to cut utility bills.
Related:
- A Green Future for All Americans (by Gavin Newsom)
- SF-Based 1 Block Off the Grid’s Community Solar Initiative Expanding to 20 US Cities
Listen to Mayor Newsom’s Green 960 radio show online or subscribe to his weekly policy discussions on iTunes. On the show this week Mayor Newsom talks with the founder of SunTech, one of the world’s biggest solar companies. Join Mayor Newsom on Facebook. You can also follow him on Twitter.
Image Credit: http2007 via Flickr under Creative Commons license.
Great to see mayors take initiative on subjects like this instead of just talking about it. I agree with you I think it will all come down to how much is our government willing to help and give subsidies to make it affordable. For many in states that do not provide incentive it is not affordable or cost-effective.
Mayor Newsom,
Have you heard of the training organization GreenPlumbers? I have attended a couple of their green plumbing training workshops in the Bay Area, and what they are teaching us plumbers is very critical to the current water policy climate. When cities such as Roseville are forcing customers to cut their water use by 20%, consumers are going to need to have options.
That is so good. I will change careers and looks like a good choice.
It is so great to see that solar energy is making its way as a high priority. Even during the day it is important to note that light energy is being wasted due to lack of light in houses. There is this company I heard of called Solatube and they actually can install a small skylight tube in your ceiling that will bring light to the entire house in the day so you never have to turn on the lights and waste energy.